David Moss (b. 1946)

Artist David Moss (born 1946) was in residence at the Magnes from 1974 to 1977. Inspired by the Magnes collection, during his tenure he revived the practice of illustrating ketubbot (Jewish marriage contracts). David Moss currently lives and works in Jerusalem.

Il-lu-mi-nate [1. To light up. 2. To make understandable; clarify. 3. To enlighten intellectually or spiritually. 4. To endow with splendor; celebrate. 5. To adorn with ornamental designs, miniatures, or lettering in brilliant colors or precious metals.

An-i-mate [1. To give life to; to fill with life. 2. To impart interest or zest; to enliven. 3. To impart soulfulness to. 4. To inspire, prompt, encourage, stimulate, or arouse. 5. To fill with spirit or resolution. 6. To make, design, or produce so as to create the feelings of activity or liveliness.

Trans-form [1. To give new form or appearance to. 2. To change in character or potential. 3. To remold the mode in which a thing exists, acts or manifests itself. 4. To reconstruct or recast in a new or different way. 5. To reeducate or redevelop the mind or character. 6. To refashion or retrain. ~~~~~~~~~~~1946 Born in Ohio1946-1975 Creative tutelage under Jack Moss1968 B.A. Liberal Arts cum laude. St. John's College of Annapolis and Santa Fe.1968-1971 Hebrew University and the Jewish Theological Seminary.Residencies, etc.:1974-7 Judah Magnes Museum, Berkeley, California,1979, 82, 84 Brandeis Bardin Institute in Southern California,1980-81 Mishkenot Shaananim in Jerusalem,1990, 91 Camp Ramah, Palmer, Massachusetts1992-present Camp Ramah, Wisconsin1997-98 Center For Southern Jewry, Clayton, Georgia1999-present Camp Ramah, Ontario, Canada1992 The Israel Museum’s Jesselson Prize for Contemporary Judaica1999-2002 Artist-in-Residence, Yakar Center for Tradition and CreativityWorks exhibited at (E) or in the permanent collections (C) of:British Museum (C), Duke University (C), Harvard University Libraries (E/C), Hebrew Union College (E/C), Getty Museum (C), Israel Museum (E), Jewish Theological Seminary (C), Library of Congress (E/C), Magnes Museum (E/C), National Library of Canada (C), New York Public Library (E/C) Princeton University Library (C), Skirball Museum (E/C), Stanford University Library (C), Yale University Library(C), Yeshiva University Museum (E/C)